National Historic Landmark

Pennsylvania Hospital

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000688

About this property

Pennsylvania Hospital is a private, non-profit, 515-bed teaching hospital located at 800 Spruce Street in Center City Philadelphia, The hospital was founded on May 11, 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond. It was the second public hospital in the United States (after only Bellevue Hospital) and had its first surgical amphitheater. and its first medical library. It is part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The hospital's main building, dating to 1756, is a National Historic Landmark.

Location

8th and Spruce Sts.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.94485, -75.15581

Categories

HEALTH/MEDICINESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Pennsylvania Hospital

This page lists Pennsylvania Hospital. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Pennsylvania Hospital report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Mikveh Israel Cemetery
Listed
0.1 mi
Clinton Street Historic District
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Portico Row
Industrial
0.1 mi
George, Henry, Birthplace
Industrial
0.1 mi
Musical Fund Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
3.4 mi
Battle of Gloucester (NJ) 1777
1777Revolutionary War
4.1 mi
Fort Mercer siege Oct-Nov 1777
1777Revolutionary War
4.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pennsylvania Hospital listed on the National Register?

Pennsylvania Hospital was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Pennsylvania Hospital?

Pennsylvania Hospital is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Pennsylvania Hospital a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Pennsylvania Hospital has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Pennsylvania Hospital?

The period of significance for Pennsylvania Hospital is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Pennsylvania Hospital?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Pennsylvania Hospital will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Philadelphia County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Philadelphia County.

Explore PhiladelphiaCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Pennsylvania Hospital will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report